Zhao Feng was still catching his breath, sweat dripping down his forehead as we stepped away from the fighting platform. But I could tell..... he was thrilled.
Not just because he had won, but because of how people were looking at him now.
Respect.
Curiosity.
Even suspicion.
Good. That meant we were making waves.
But before we could even leave the tournament grounds, a new opportunity had already found me.
.....
A Potential Client
The inner disciple who called out to me was a young man, probably in his early twenties. He had a lean, refined look, but his eyes carried the sharpness of someone who had faced real battles.
His uniform bore the emblem of the Azure Sky Sect's Inner Court, marking him as someone far above outer disciples like Zhao Feng.
"Are you the one who designed that robe?" he asked, nodding toward Zhao Feng's outfit.
I crossed my arms, giving him a slow, measuring look. If an inner disciple is asking, this could be big.
"Depends," I said casually. "Are you just admiring it, or do you want something made?"
The disciple raised an eyebrow. "I don't waste time admiring things. I want one."
A few outer disciples around us turned their heads at that. An inner disciple placing an order? That was a statement.
I smiled. "I can make one. But it won't be cheap."
"Price doesn't matter," he said. "Quality does."
Oh, I like this guy already.
........
Negotiation in a Martial World
I glanced around. The tournament wasn't over yet, and we had too many eyes on us.
"This isn't the place to discuss business," I said. "Let's meet later..... somewhere more private."
The disciple nodded. "Come to the Inner Court pavilion tomorrow morning. Ask for Ji Ruofan."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked off.
Zhao Feng whistled. "Damn, senior brother, you really know how to make connections."
I smirked. "Connections are everything. Martial arts, business, survival..... it's all the same."
Zhao Feng shook his head, grinning. "Well, whatever it is, it's working."
...........
The Shadow of Jealousy
As we were about to leave, I noticed something.
Not everyone was happy about the attention we were getting.
A group of outer disciples stood off to the side, watching us with cold expressions.
Their leader, a broad shouldered guy named Deng Shun, sneered as he leaned against a wooden post. "So, this is how it is now?"
I turned to face him fully. "What do you mean?"
Deng Shun scoffed. "First, your little friend here wins a match he had no business winning. Then an inner disciple suddenly takes interest in you?"
I sighed. Ah, here we go.
Zhao Feng tensed beside me, but I held up a hand, stopping him from responding.
"I don't remember needing permission to succeed," I said, keeping my voice calm.
Deng Shun's expression darkened. "Careful, Lu Tian. The higher you climb, the further you have to fall."
I chuckled. "That's funny. I was just about to tell you the same thing."
His face twitched.
I turned away, placing a hand on Zhao Feng's shoulder. "Come on, let's go."
Deng Shun's stare burned into my back as we walked off.
Zhao Feng exhaled. "That guy's going to be trouble."
I smiled. "He already is."
..........
A Night of Planning
Back in my small living quarters, I sat on the edge of my simple wooden bed, thinking.
My first major client was an inner disciple.
That meant influence.
But it also meant competition... and not just from jealous outer disciples like Deng Shun.
If I started gaining attention within the sect, some of the established clothing traders wouldn't like it.
The inner disciples already had tailors and craftsmen serving them. If I proved my skills were better, they would see me as a threat.
I needed to move smart.
I pulled out a piece of cloth and ran my fingers over it, thinking of designs.
If I wanted to solidify my position, I needed more than just one good robe. I needed something that made people desire my work.
Something that made even the sect elders take notice.
I smiled to myself.
Time to get to work.